Police in Bilbao have cancelled all holidays and annual leave for officers as they prepare for a major security operation around Thursday’s Europa League visit of Rangers.
More than 5,000 Rangers supporters are expected to arrive in the Basque city for the quarter-final showdown with tournament favourites Athletic Bilbao.
That is despite the fact that Rangers have only been given an official allocation of around 2,600, with fears that some travelling fans may look to infiltrate the home end.
With the tie finely poised at 0-0, reports in Spain have suggested that the local authorities in Bilbao are on red alert ahead of the match at the San Mames Stadium.
The city has also been anticipating the arrival of hundreds of Greek fans for the first leg of the FIBA Europa Cup basketball final between Bilbao Basket and PAOK Thessaloniki on Wednesday evening.
Now Spanish media claim the entire police force are on duty or on standby between now and the end of the week.
Police gather outside the San Mames stadium before last month’s visit of Roma
There were unsavoury scenes involving both sets of fans during the last-16 encounter
Police will be hoping the only fireworks at San Mames this week are of the staged variety
Roma fans were involved in ugly clashes in and around the stadium during last month’s Europa League round-of-16 encounter.
Rangers supporters will be accompanied into the ground three hours before kick off and will have to remain there for an unspecified time after full time.
The club’s fans have already fallen foul of UEFA this season after an illicit banner which was held up in the home game against Fenerbahce led to a £25,000 fine and a warning of a partial stadium close in future.
Athletic Bilbao have issued security advice for their own fans ahead of what is a huge match for both teams.
They stated: ‘There will be a co-ordinated operation between the Municipal Police, the Ertzaintza – the Basque Country Police – and the club ahead of this Thursday’s Europa League match
Goalkeeper Liam Kelly is congratulated by team-mates after penalty save kept score level
‘The planned operation will primarily affect the area surrounding San Mames, with the aim of establishing a series of measures aimed at ensuring the safety of both (sets of) fans, as well as the general public.’
The authorities in the Spanish city are planning to use this week’s visit of Rangers and PAOK basketball fans as a dress rehearsal for their security operation during the Europa League final which will also be held in the San Mames stadium on May 21.
